12:45 Taunton

Wednesday 8 January 2025

All12:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

Foresters Garden Buildings Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 4m 54.56s

French Ship³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 128| D

4/11

Bumper winner who confirmed promise of hurdling debut when landing a Chepstow maiden in November. Ran well when 5½ lengths fourth of 6 to exciting prospect The New Lion in novice at Newbury (20.5f, good to soft) last time and he's the one to beat.

Form: 42-1214

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Alderley Charlie^h⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: P Gundry

250/1

Pulled up on debut and, with hood applied, fared little better when tailed off in novice at this C&D (good to soft) 9 days ago. Looks to be up against it.

Form: P0

Champagne Chic

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: J Scott

100/1

€1,000 3-y-o, Shirocco gelding. Brother to fair 19f hurdle winner Go Go Chicago and closely related to bumper winner Windswept Girl. Yard won this race last year, but he has a fairly useful standard to aim at on debut.

Form:

George Henry²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls

14/1

Better than result on first of 2 starts in bumpers and some encouragement on seasonal/hurdling debut when mid-field at Exeter (16.3f, heavy) in December. Below that level at Wincanton 11 days later, though he could fare better as he gains experience.

Form: 93-65

I Ain't Your Mate²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

50/1

€30,000 3-y-o, £120,000 4-y-o, Sea Moon gelding. Brother to bumper winner Sea God and half-brother to bumper/fairly useful 2½m hurdle winner Turn Turk. Placed both starts in Irish points in spring 2024, but he may just be better for this outing.

Form: 32-

Kingston Gent²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

25/1

Successful on second of 2 starts in points but has shaped as if in need of the experience in 2 runs over hurdles, no match for the front pair when third of 13 in novice at Wincanton (19.8f, soft) 22 days ago. Has something to find.

Form: 3-193

Kykorock^h1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

40/1

Comfortable winner of sole outing in points but only sixth of 8 in bumper at Market Rasen (16.6f, soft) on Rules debut in December. Could leave his latest effort behind, though, as he goes hurdling with hood applied.

Form: 1-6

Loki's Mischief⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 100

22/1

Ran to a fair level first time up in bumpers but has looked more about stamina than speed in 2 starts over hurdles, rallying for second in 4-runner novice at this course (16.5f, good) in November. More needed, though the step up in trip should suit.

Form: 2742

Sox's Sun^h1¹⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt| OR: 55

250/1

Has offered little in a trio of starts over hurdles so far, pulled up in novice at Fontwell (21.8f, good) on latest outing in September. Hood now reached for.

Form: 99P

Steel Dancer⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball

250/1

Finished well held in a bumper and it's been a similar story sent hurdling this season, beaten a long way out in novice at this C&D (good to soft) 9 days ago.

Form: 6-09

The Final Word⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BF

16/1

Successful only start in Irish points, but shaped as if needing the run after 9 months off when down the field in a Chepstow bumper (16f, good to soft) on Rules debut in October. Remains with potential as he goes up in trip for his hurdles bow.

Form: 1-7

Thistle Be The One²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Kieran Burke

10/3

Useful bumper winner and much improved from his first start over hurdles when runner-up to a promising type in novice at this course (16.5f, good) 27 days ago. Could be thereabouts with more to offer given his ability in bumpers.

Form: 4/312-52

Remember Moi³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: G Nicholls

150/1

Modest form when placed on second of 3 starts in bumpers and ran to similar level when second of 5 in novice at Wincanton (21.4f, good to soft) on hurdling debut in November. However, finished well held back at Wincanton on her latest outing.

Form: 83529

Forecasts

French Ship (4/11), Thistle Be The One (10/3), George Henry (14/1), The Final Word (16/1), Loki's Mischief (22/1), Kingston Gent (25/1), Kykorock (40/1), I Ain't Your Mate (50/1), Champagne Chic (100/1), Remember Moi (150/1), Alderley Charlie (250/1), Sox's Sun (250/1), Steel Dancer (250/1)

FRENCH SHIP continued his good start over hurdles when making the frame behind a top-class prospect at Newbury on his latest outing and he looks to have leading claims of recording a second win in this sphere. Thistle Be The One stepped forward from his hurdling debut when runner-up last time and could be the main danger, ahead of The Final Word.